Chardon officials request removal of red ribbons in remembrance of school shooting victims

By Betsy Scott

Thursday, December 27, 2012

In an effort to aid healing in the Chardon community, city officials are asking that residents remove the red ribbons of remembrance and support from public property.

The city this week issued the request via a news release, crafted in consultation with school leaders and David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement.

"The city of Chardon and many individual members of the community placed red ribbons as a sign of support and community connection after the events of Feb. 27, 2012," the release said. "The families of the victims have very much appreciated the outpouring of support and joining them in expressing the desire to remember their children by the placement of these ribbons.

"To continue the healing process for the community, it has been decided to remove the ribbons on public property and to use the ribbons to construct a more permanent item of remembrance for presentation to the families of the victims."

Three students succumbed to bullet wounds after shots were fired at the high school that February morning. Three others were injured. Thomas "T.J." Lane III, then a fellow student, is charged in the case, in Geauga County Common Pleas Court.

"The families (of the victims) have been part of this decision and discussion," Mayor Phil King said. "The primary issue is: When does the community move forward and remember the individuals and not the tragedy itself?"

There have been inquiries about when the ribbons in the public right-of-way would come down, because of concern for the condition of the ribbons as well as healing, City Manager Randy Sharpe said.

The city and school district plan to focus on planning for a permanent memorial. Property owners may maintain ribbons on their own land, but they also are invited to donate them to the memorial effort.

"The school and city are working together to organize a memorialization committee that will work on the process to explore the options for site, design, budget, style and maintenance of the permanent commemoration," Sharpe said.

In August, architect Joe Linek of Newbury Township proposed a memorial design to be placed on the city square. His cousin, Danny Parmertor, was among the teens killed. Linek presented a model to City Council, but some officials expressed concern about locating it on the square. Linek said he hasn't heard from the city since the presentation.

"It's just such a sensitive issue, I think everybody's taking their time and making sure it's right," he said.

Ribbon donations may be dropped off in the front lobby at the Municipal Center, 111 Water St.